Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-14
THE CAUSE OF THE INDIAN.

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for the prac,icsl efforts on the reservations
to demonstrate that the Indian Is a human
being capable Of civilization and finally
for the enactment of laws looking directly
to self support and citizenship the chief
credit Is due 10 theinf1uences represented at
the annual C nfeIencss at Lake Mohonk.
In remarks last Thursday evening about
the bill granting lands In severaly and the
rights of citizenship, Senator Dawes said
the bill might more properly be called the
'Mohonk bill' than the Dawes BILL for It's
objects were first formulated and urged in
one of these conferences. 1t is doubtless If
another such representative assemblage
ever meets, comprising prominent leaders
from all the great religious denominations
of Protestant America, as we'll as those not
connected with such bodies; men
and women from widely scat
tered parts of the land, busy lawyers, cler-
gymen, business men and teachers, as well
as persons of leisure, differing greatly In
many views, but laboring un'tedly to aid
the cause of Indian civilization, and labor
ing not as cranks or theorists, but as per
SOILS with personal knowledge of the situa-
tioD, and with very definite practical aims
The conference has always been non PAL
lisan, all concerned taking especial pains to
make it such. The memory of General
Grant is cherished as the first president who
gave practical help to the work Of civiliza-
ton and called on the Christian churches
to work with him. The administration OF
President Arthur is regarded with regret
and dissatisfaction becaue he allowed
his secretary of the interior to over.
turn and undo much that General
Grants policy had accomplished and to
revive The old methods In which the chance
to make money out Of the Indian was held to
be of more account than his civilization. |
Toward President Cleveland there has al |
ways been friendly feeling caused by the
pleasant words he has spoken. Neverthe-
less both last year and this complaints were
made by agents and missionaries and others
familiar with the work In the field, similar
10 the complaints of the Mary land Demo-
Gratis concerning the civil service profes-
sions of The administration. Men not In
harmony with the professions of the ad
are allowed to run the Indian
bureau as they please, and the faithful,
work Of years Is often checked ,
n order that some political worker from !
Tennessee or Mississippi, who has no
Of or interest in the cause of f
he Indian, may have chance to feather s
lis nest. 1t was, however, cheerfully admit
ed that some good appointments had been =
made. and that some changes which had :
,een regarded as very unfortunate have q
eally ben beneficial. The conference in +
formal resolution copgratulates the coun =
ry that the president Is endeavoring TO Y
AIRY out the provisions of the Dawes bill Is
n accordance with its spirit. !,
The act Of the Indian bureau which ex- :,
ited the most adverse criticism was the f
rider prohibiting the use of the Indian u
apguage In schools. It was an unfortu u
ate and III considered order. The motive n
good one, land directly in line with the "
fort of all Indian teachers), to bring the u
,nglish language into general use. But .
le use of the tribal tongue to convey ideas Fl
nd aid In mastering the English Is indis- c.
ensable in the opinion of every expert n
need teacher and missionary. More than :,
his 1t appears that On some Of the large h
there are little mission schools z
sught by converted Indians. They are dis
ant from any English speaking schools and
0 close them will close the only means of
the children and adults Of the -
egion. But this Is what the remarkable 8,
lder calls for. 1t has already been mater
ally modified and ought to be revoked at 1
nee. as 1t undoubtedly will be eventually. v
Civilization for the savage means regen
ration. He will never seek the new way S
o long as the suggestions and traditions Of
be old way hold him In their grip Hence
he MChonk conference holds that religi ms
ducation is fundamental to everything
lse. In the opinion Of the eminent gen :,
lemen representing the leading religions c
odies engaged in the Indian work. It is a
ighly essential that these bodies should
for this purpose, and a special
difference will be called with this
bject When men like Bishops
huntington and Walker Of
be Episcopal church, Drs Abbott and ),
Ward, Congregational; Drs. Ellenwood I
nd Kendall, Presby terisn; Drs. Taylor
nd McGill, Baptist; Messrs Fisk and r
Ioughtop, Methodist; Brothers Garrett and b
smiley, Friends, and General Marshal, t
Unitarian, unite heartily In urging such q {
there can be no doubt there Is
ee Of It. Possibly the long abused red
nan may yet help along the cause Of Chris +
ian unity. %
What the MohoDk conference especially L
rges is the necessity and the duty for :
9th congress and the churches at this
Important crisis for the Indian to
ush the educational work In all :
s branches. II The Indian Is to be
,ked at once to accept ownership In I
and and the duties Of citizenship, special r
forts should be made TO show him how to q
lake living { # bis land and how to SD I
reclaie and properly exercise his duties as